Thermostatic control for ironing machines



Patented our. 2, are

STATES re -en earner caries HARRY D. ELSE, E WILKINSBUBG, 'EENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN'OE T0 WESTINGHOUSE 1 ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING- GOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVAN 1A.

THERMQSTATIC CONTROL TOR IRONTNG- MACHINES.

Application filed may 15,

My invention relates to thermostatic devices for controlling temperature and it has special relation to temperature control devlces applied to ironing machines.

I a One object of my invention is to provide a simple device for longitudinally adjustingha rod, whereby an operator may control t e temperature at which an ironing member will be thermostatically maintained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple device for varying and indicating the temperature at which an ironing member will be thermostatically maintained.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connection between a rod and a valve which will permit relative movement of the valve and the rod without impairing the accuracy of the thermostatic control,

Reference is had to the accompanying 2 drawing, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of an ironing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the ironing shoe shown in Fig. 1 and of certain elements of my invention, the upper part or the shoe being broken away 5 Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, parts hein shown in section; and

' I 1 is an elevational view of parts shown in Fig, 2, looking at the left-hand end of the mechanism 1n the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the shoe 1, of any desired construction,

has a support 2 secured toone end thereof in so which a plug 3 is threaded. The other end of the plug 3 is secured in a tubular rod 4 that extends longitudinally of the shoe 1 to a point adjacent a casing 5 that is seouredto the shoe 1 in a manner presently to be described.

The casing 5 is provided with a dial 6 with which a pointer 7 co-operates, the pointer being made of sheet metal and fitting about the vrod d and secured thereto by means of bolts 8. The dial 6 may be calibrated to indicate temperaturespr otherwise appropriately marked to indicate the ironing condition of the shoe 1.

A plug 10 is secured in this end of the rod 4 and has a conically formed recess 11 therein to receive a ball 12. A stem 13 is fitted, at one so end, for longitudinal and rotative movement in the recess 11 and engages the ball 12.

The stem 13 is also received in, and is capable of slidin and rotative movement in, an elongated guide 14: which is cast integral with the as casing 5. The other end of the stem 13 prolit) was. Serial No. 713,437.

valve 16 to urge the valve toward an annular valve seat 23 on the casing 5. When the valve 16 rests against the valve seat 23, it closes the opening to a chamber 24: in the easing 5 which extends upwardly about the guide 1 1, but fluid is at all times admissible from the interior of the cap 18' to opening 2 through a by-pass 25.

To facilitate manufacture, the casing 5 is cast with the chamber at open at the top, and is associated with the shoe 1 by being first secured, by screws 27, to a plate 26 which overlies the open upper end; of the chamber 24, The plate 26 is, in turn, secured to the shoe 1 by bolts 28. @ne end of a pipe 29 isv screwed into the wall of the casing! to communicate with the chamber 2 1 and its other end is connected to the burner 30 of the shoe 1, by means of a coupling 31.

The shoe 1, when heated, expands with re spect to the rod 4, which is preferably of some relatively inexpansible material. The relative expansion of the shoe and rod produces relative movement between the casing 5 and the stem 13. An operator may vary the temperature at which these thermally related or thermostatic elements maintain the shoe 1 by manually moving the pointer 7 relatively to the dial 6, thus causing longitudinal movement of the plug 3 in the support 2, the

eflect being to substantially vary the operative length of therod 4.

Relative rotary movement under certain circumstances, occurs between the rod 4 and we the stem 13 and, when the valve 16 is brought into contact with the valve seat 23, relative longitudinal movement may occur between the stem 13 and the rod 4:- Where sliding movement occurs .between the stem 13 and ms the rod 4 and the stem is again brought into engagement with the ball 12, the efiective operating length of the rod 1 upon the valve 16 is unchanged because the ball 12 returns to its original position in the conical porno tion of the recess 11 and is engaged with the central portion of the flat face of the stem 13.

Though the Construction wherein the ball 12 is used is most advantageous, applicant does not limit himself to the details of this construction. If the ball 12 were omitted, andthe stem 13 were rounded at its end to have the curvature of a sphere ellipsoid or the like, the resulting arrangement would embody some of the principles of applicant s device and, although the ball construction 1s preferred, no disclaimer whatsoever of any form is made.

The novel connection between the stem 13 and the rod 4 has a further advantage. If the stem 13 were rigid with the rod 4, difliculty would occur in securing the rod 4 to the support 2 and in so aligning it with the bore of the guide 23 as not to cause undesirable friction in the guide 23. The slight looseness of fit, in my construction of the stem 13 irrthe recess 11, allows for possible misalignment of the rod 14.

From these considerations, the utility of the provision of the ball 17 in the recess 15 is apparent. It permits the valve 16 to fit squarely against the valve seat 23, irrespective of the occurrence of relative rotary movement between the valve 16 and the valve stem 13.

The cap 18 may be detached from the casing 5 to permit cleaning of parts. The spring 22, thevalve 16, the valve stem 13 and the balls 17 and 12 may then be removed. This cleaning may, therefore, be accomplished without detachment of the casing 5 or the support 2 from the shoe and without disturbing the setting of the pointer 7 with respect to the dial 6.

The guide 14 is strong and, because of its considerable length, tends to prevent lateral movement of the stem 13 and provides a seal that is effective to prevent the escape of the heating fluid.

The invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts described and illustrated which may be extensively modified and varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of an ironing member having an o ening therein for the passage of fluid, a va ve for restricting said opening, a second member having a connection with said valve, said second member being operative on the movement of the ironing member in one direction to vary the relative position of said valve and said ironing member, said connection permitting rotation of saidvalvc with respect to said second member without varying the relative longitudinal position of said valve and said second member.

In an ironing machine, the combination of a member having an opening therein for the passage of fluid, a valve for controlling 'said pair of members,

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the passage of fluid through said opening, a spring for urging said valve in one direction, a second member for moving said valve in the other direction, and connecting means between said valve and said second member to permit relative rotary movement between said valve and said second member but preventing lateral movement of said valve with respect to said second member.

3. The combination of an ironing member, a rod secured to one'end thereof, an elongated member and connections between said elongated member and said rod, said connections being adapted to permit relative rotary move-, ment of said elongated member and said rod without varying the longitudinal positions of third member slidable in said gaging said ball in said recess.

6. An ironing machine comprisingan ironing member, a rod secured to one end thereof. a second member secured to the other end of said ironing member and having an opening therein for the passage of fluid, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said opening and having a recess therein, a ball in. said recess, a recess insaid rod, a second ball in said recess, and an elongated member engaging said balls.

7. An ironing machine comprising an iron ing member, a rod secured to one end thereof, a second member secured to said ironing member and havingan opening therein for the passage of fluid, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said opening and having a recess therein, a spring for urging said valve in one direction, a ball in said reguide and encess, a recess in said rod, a second ball in said recess, and an elongated member engaging said balls.

8. In an ironing machine, the combination of an ironing member, heating means therefor, a pair of members adapted by their relative positions to control said heating means, a rod rigid with said ironing member and adapted to act directly on one of said pair of members for varying the relative positions of said ironing member, said heating means, said pair of members and said rod' co-operatin to maintain said ironmg member at a pre eterminedtemperature,

therein, a ball in said recess, a guide and a and means on said rod for indicating said temperature.

9. In an ironing machine, an ironing member, heating means therefor, a valve for controlling said heating means, a rod rigid with said ironing member and adapted to act directly on said valve, means co-operating with said ironing member, said valve and said rod for maintaining said member at a predetermined temperature, and means on said rod for indicating said temperature.

10. Anironing machine comprising an ironing member, a rod secured to one end of said ironing member, a second member having an opening therein for the passage of fluid, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said opening, a spring for urging said valve in one direction, said rod being adapted to move said valve in an opposite direction, and a pointer secured to said rod and adiustable thereonl 11. In an ironing machine, the combination of ,an ironing member, a rod secured to one end of said member, a second member having an opening therein for the passage of fluid, a valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said opening, a dial on said second member, and a pointer on said rod adapted to co-operate with said dial,'said pointer being adjustable rotatively with respect to the rod.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of April, 1924.

HARRY D. ELSE. 

